Piano-pedal.



S. W. WIDNEY.

PIANO PEDAL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1912.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

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qMLh e sses W901 STANLEY w. WIDNEY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

rIANo-rnnAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 1, 1912.

Patented Nov, 11, 1913.

Serial No. 687,827.

Toall whom it may concern:

' Beit known that I, STANLEY IV. IVI NEY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Pedals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in piano edals and has among its salient objects to provide simple and improved means for connecting the pedal bar to its spring support; to provide a. construction in which the pedal bars are each firmly locked against "lateral or longitudinal movement relative to the spring support and without the use of bolts, screws or other fastening devices; to provide a construction in which the pedal bars may be readily secured in position and as readily removed from their connections with the supporting springs; to provide a construction in which the pedal bars and supporting springs are so connected as to obviate any danger of squeaking or unnecessary binding during the pivotal action of the pedal bars; to provide a construction in which the pedal bars are effectively spring supported merely by the use of fiat spring plates; and in general to provide a simple and economical construction of the character referred to.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a perspective view of a piano pedal action equipped with my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the manner of connecting the pedal bars to the spring supports. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the same parts in unassembled relation; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 2 taken on line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing the manner of connecting the pedal bars to the lifter rods.

Referring to the drawings1 designates the base support for the pedals 2, 3, and 4t which are journaled as shown at 5, 5, to suit able journal castings 6. To each of the pedals is connected a lifter rod 7 the upper end of which is screw threaded as shown at 8. To each of the lifter rods 7 is secured one end of a pedal bar 9. For this urpose the inner end of each pedal bar 9 is attened as shown at 10, and apertured to receive the upper end of the lifter rod. The bars are secured to their respective rods by means of nuts 11 and washers 12, all in the usual man.- ner.

Describing now the novel features of my invention, to the base 1, are secured the fulcrum springs 13, each having a flat base portion 1-1 and a curved upper end 15. The springs are screwed or otherwise secured as shown at 16, 16, to the base 1. These springs are preferably formed of fiat metal spring strips and at their upper end are notched or recessed as shown at 17, which forms confining ears 18, 18 between which is inserted the flat pedal ba T n tches 7 are so o med a the pedal bars 9 will fit snugly therein and be rigidly locked against any lateral movement relative to the supporting springs.

As a special feature of construct-ion each pedal bar 9 is provided with a pair of hori zontally extending pins 19 and 20 extending through suitable apertures formed in the face of the pedal bar. These pins 19 and 20 are off-set relative to each other both vertically and horizontally and so arranged as to fit upon opposite sides of the spring 13 when the bar 9 rests between the cars 18, of the spring. It will be seen that the pins 20 extend through the lower side of the pedal bar 9 and abut against the inner face of the corresponding spring. The other pin 19 is situated near the upper edge of the pedal bar and on the opposite face of the spring. As the pedal is depressed the inner end of its pedal bar is carried downwardly, thus causing the pins 19 and 20 to tightly grip the upper end of the spring 13, thus giving the desired tension to the spring support. Incidentally the pins 19 and 20 prevent any longitudinal movement or play of the pedal bar relative to the spring member 13. It is apparent that the pedal bars may be readily connected to or detached from their springs and at the same time the construction is such as to effectively attain the objects of the invention heretofore stated.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a pedal action for pianos, the combination with a pivotally mounted pedal, of a pedal bar connected thereto, a spring sup port for said pedal bar, and means for gripping and deflecting said spring when the end of the pedal bar connected with the pedal is depressed comprising a pair of members projecting laterally from the pedal bar and ollset both vertically and horizontally and. engaging opposite sides of the free end of the spring support.

2. In a pedal action for pianos, the co1n binat-ion with a substantially horizontal pedal bar a pivotally mounted pedal, and means connecting one end of the pedal bar with the pedal, of a fulcrum spring rigidly secured at one end and provided at its other end with confining ears to snugly embrace the pedal bar and prevent lateral movement between these parts, and members projecting laterally from the upper and lower parts of the pedal bar to engage opposite sides of said confining ears to deflect the fulcrum spring and prevent longitudinal movement of the bar with relation to the spring.

3. In a pedal action for pianos, the combination with a pivotally mounted pedal, of a pedal bar connected thereto having an uninterrupted lower edge, a spring fulcrum rigidly secured at one end and provided at its other end with confining ears to snugly embrace the pedal bar, and members projecting laterally from the upper and lower sides of the pedal bar to engage opposite sides of said confining ears in different horizontal planes.

t. In a pedal action for pianos, the combination with a pivotally mounted pedal, of a pedal bar consisting of a flat metal bar having its lower edge unbroken, a fulcrum spring secured at its lower end and provided at its upper end with confining ears to snugly embrace the sides of the pedal bar, members projecting laterally from the sides of the pedal bar adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof to engage opposite sides of said confining ears in different horizontal planes, and means connecting the pedal bar and pedal.

STANLEY WV. WVIDNEY.

Witnesses F. L. BELKNAP, JOYCE M. Lurz.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

